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Microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-125).
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| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613821759127552 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Africa, Cindy-Jade |
| author2 | Harrison, STL |
| author_browse | Africa, Cindy-Jade Harrison, STL |
| author_facet | Harrison, STL Africa, Cindy-Jade |
| author_sort | Africa, Cindy-Jade |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-125). |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7702 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:14.777Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research |
| publisherStr | Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7702 Microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment Africa, Cindy-Jade Harrison, STL Van Hille, Rob Bioprocess Engineering Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-125). This research pertains to bioleaching of copper containing ores with particular reference to the copper sulfide mineral chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂). While it is focused on heap bioleaching, it has applications to stirred tank bioleaching operations. Industrial heap bioleaching offers opportunities for processing of low grade ores but poses process operational challenges. These challenges include ineffective heap inoculation, a lag period before effective leaching commences and poor heap performance. These aspects are attributed to several contributing factors, such as heap construction, engineering and microbial activity. To date little attention has been paid to colonisation as a means of mitigating these challenges and effectively improving process operation. Current literature regarding microbial attachment to sulfide minerals is limited to pure culture studies using iron oxidising mesophiles, and the use of sulfide mineral concentrates. In a heap environment, mineral dissolution is accelerated through the presence of a mixed consortium of microbial species; with the contribution of each not yet fully understood. In addition, gangue minerals comprise the bulk of the minerals present and thus cannot be neglected when attempting to better understand microbial attachment and the role of micro-organisms in a heap environment. The predominant methodology employed to study microbial attachment in a bioleach context has used batch agitated systems (shake flasks). This may not adequately represent attachment under heap-like fluid dynamics. The idea of this project stemmed from a requirement to contribute to the mitigation of challenges faced by industry through addressing the aforementioned gaps prevailing in literature and improving understanding of the role of microbial attachment and colonisation under conditions simulating a heap. The aim of this study was to investigate attachment of three bioleach micro-organisms (A. ferrooxidans, L. ferriphilum and S. metallicus)to complex, sulfide-containing minerals ores in a bioleach environment using methodologies simulating heap-like conditions. 2014-09-26T07:20:24Z 2014-09-26T07:20:24Z 2009 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7702 eng application/pdf Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Bioprocess Engineering Africa, Cindy-Jade Microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment |
| title_full | Microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment |
| title_fullStr | Microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment |
| title_short | Microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment |
| title_sort | microbial attachment to sulfide minerals in a bioleach environment |
| topic | Bioprocess Engineering |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7702 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT africacindyjade microbialattachmenttosulfidemineralsinabioleachenvironment |